The cold open ends with that familiar refrain: “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!” For the past 40 years, Saturday Night Live has continuously pushed the boundaries of late-night television while giving us enduring moments, contagious catchphrases, and beloved characters (Land Shark, the Blues Brothers, Roseanne Roseannadanna, the Coneheads, Church Lady, Wayne and Garth, Hans and Franz, Matt Foley, the Spartan Cheerleaders, Mary Katherine Gallagher, Debbie Downer, and Stefon, just to name a few). What started out as an alternative to Tonight Show reruns quickly became a comedic powerhouse under executive producer Lorne Michaels, and soon after, an American institution that launched a thousand careers.

To commemorate the show’s 40th anniversary, Taschen will publish Saturday Night Live: The Book, which offers a glimpse inside the hallowed halls of Studio 8H and documents everything from writing the script and producing the show to seeing it all come together live on air (whether they’re ready or not). VF.com has an exclusive selection of rare backstage photos and candid moments from the 500-page book that gives us an intimate look at one of the funniest, most fearless shows in television history.